1 August 2025
Hong Kong’s Covi Yan Hiu-yau announced herself as one of Asia’s brightest junior golf prospects with a commanding performance at The Jockey Club’s Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, claiming both the Overall Champion title and Girls 21 & Under division crown as the 2025-26 Faldo Junior Tour Asia season kicked off in style.
The 17-year-old from Hong Kong Golf Club fired rounds of 73, 68, and 73 to finish at five-under-par, securing a comfortable five-shot victory in challenging conditions across three days of competition. “My mindset was to focus on doing what I needed to do, not to worry too much about the outcome; in essence, it was about concentrating on each step and doing it well,” said Yan. “One step at a time is OK.” That approach paid dividends in her second-round 68, which proved decisive as she found her rhythm on Kau Sai Chau’s demanding North Course despite summer storms and lightning delays that tested everyone’s patience.
Players battled lightning delays and temperatures that soared into the mid-30s, making course management and mental fortitude as important as their shot-making ability. Ethan Tian Jun showed exactly that combination, producing consistent rounds of 72, 72, and 74 to claim the Boys 16 & Under title. His steady approach proved that patience often beats power in championship golf, particularly on this course.
The battle for second place overall highlighted the tournament’s depth. Girls 16 & Under winner Doris Sung Mut-ham and Girls 21 & Under runner-up Obi Chan finished tied at even par, with Sung’s closing 72 showcasing her composure when it mattered most.
In the Boys 21 & Under division, Korea’s Joonho Kim edged out Hong Kong’s Anson Tam in a dramatic finish. The pair were tied after both made birdies on the 17th hole, but the pressure of the final hole took its toll. Kim’s bogey on 18 was enough for victory when Tam couldn’t match it, sealing a one-shot win at four-over-par.
The spectacular North Course at Kau Sai Chau lived up to its reputation as one of Asia’s premier venues. Its 6,805-meter layout, featuring dramatic cliff-top holes and ocean views across the South China Sea, provided a challenging test for the tournament and its players.
Despite the challenging weather, crowds of families and coaches created a supportive atmosphere throughout the week. The Golf Association of Hong Kong’s excellent organisation ensured the event ran smoothly, with a professional setup featuring live scoring and dedicated spectator areas that gave many players their first taste of tour-level competition.
All four division winners now advance to the 2026 Asia Grand Final at Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam, where they’ll face the continent’s best junior talent. The tournament’s success showcased the growing strength of junior golf in Hong Kong, with local players claiming two out of four division titles. As the 2025-26 season begins, events like this prove the future of Asian golf is in very capable hands.
Pictured below: Signature Par 3, 14th Hole (North Course)
